HC Deb 03 March 2004 vol 418 cc941-2W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many challenges there have been to speed camera fines in the last 12 months. [148941]

Mr. Jamieson

I am advised by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that information is not held centrally on the number of people prosecuted for speeding offences who elect to challenge a fixed penalty notice.

Mr. Baron

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the costs were of(a) purchasing and (b) operating speed cameras in Essex in each of the last six (i) financial and (ii) calendar years for which figures are available. [152476]

Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 3 February 2004]

We do not hold information centrally on the costs of local and police authorities' camera operations prior to the establishment of the Safety Camera Programme in April 2000. The information on the costs of the Essex Partnership for 2000–01 and 2001–02, which is compiled by financial year, is in the following table. Capital expenditure includes the purchase of camera equipment. Revenue expenditure covers the cost of administration of the prosecution process by conditional offer fixed penalty.

£M
2000–01 2001–02
Essex
Capital 612,027 1,036,298
Revenue 1,234,453 2,967,465
Total 1,846,480 3,003,763

The figures for 2002–03 will be contained in the report of the third year of the safety camera cost recovery scheme, which is to he published shortly. The results of the two-year trial of the programme demonstrate that safety cameras, covering sites with known problems of speed-related accidents, reduce collisions and road injuries. The third-year report will update the data on the road safety benefit; of safety cameras.

Mr. Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if will take steps to remove speed cameras from non-hazardous sections of road. [156503]

Mr. Jamieson

The rules of the Safety Camera Programme require Partnerships to place cameras at sites or on routes with a history of speed related accidents, to review their sites regularly and to adjust enforcement strategies accordingly.